9-day, 8-night Guangxi road trip from Shanghai | 2,200km real-world test
9 days, 8 nights, 2,200km total driving distance
Nanning → Pingxiang → Daxin → Jingxi → Bama → Leye → Nandan → Jinchengjiang → Liuzhou → Nanning
Avoid the pitfalls!
Day 1: Shanghai → Nanning
Stay directly at the Konggang Jiayang Bitian Hotel upon arrival
Airport skybridge connects directly to the terminal, just a few minutes' walk, super convenient
Nice room environment, includes breakfast for 2 guests; children over 140cm are charged the full price of ¥68/person
Day 2: Nanning → Pingxiang (2h drive)
Pick up the rental car from eHi Car Services at the airport; the national highway scenery is beautiful
Friendship Pass tip: No need to buy a ticket if you aren't hiking
It's free if you just want to take photos of the gate!
Zuobi Mountain is short, 1h to finish; Jinji Mountain has very high steps, takes 2h
Slippery and buggy on rainy days, be careful if hiking!
Stay: Pingxiang Meihao Lizhi Hotel (Family Suite)
Highly recommended! Quality amenities, includes afternoon tea for 3
10-minute walk to 3 parallel snack streets
Food: Zhenweidao Rice Noodles, Suanye, Xiongchacha Baked Buns
The raw mango Suanye is top-tier!
Day 3: Pingxiang → Daxin
The route is full of sugarcane, banana, and dragon fruit plantations
Pick wax apples and passion fruit by the roadside, ¥20 for a huge bag, super sweet!
✅ Detian Transnational Waterfall (Must-visit!)
Right side is China's Detian Waterfall, left side is Vietnam's Ban Gioc Waterfall
Water volume is 3 times that of Huangguoshu! The bamboo raft experience crossing two countries is stunning
Lunch recommendation: Shuolong Town Old Street Local Restaurant | Passion fruit pork ribs and bamboo rice are recommended
✅ Mingshi Scenic Area
¥110 for a 40-minute bamboo raft ticket, Zhuang tour guide provides commentary throughout
Healing landscape, beautiful scenery, pets allowed on the raft
Stay: Daxin Muyan Inn, Panoramic Starry Sky Room
The guesthouse provides free Zhuang ethnic costumes, great for photos in the rice fields
Not recommended on rainy days; the panoramic room offers better value
Day 4: Slow travel in Daxin
Leisurely stroll around the guesthouse:
Tricycle ¥35/hour, e-bike ¥10/hour, bicycle ¥6/hour
Visit Longlin Dam and Xingfu Bridge; the roadside is full of mango, wampee, and banana trees, total relaxation
✅ Sandieling Waterfall (Highly recommended)
Wild, free attraction! Get close to the water, rainbows everywhere
⚠️ Must wear a raincoat + non-slip shoes, the moss on the steps is extremely slippery
✅ Equan Spring tip
Don't buy the scenic area ticket! It's more cost-effective to buy tickets directly from the bamboo raft owner
The underwater aquatic plants are beautiful, a niche, healing spot that won't disappoint
Stay: Jingxi Changfeng International Hotel
¥280 river-view balcony room is great value
⚠️ The ancient town has poor facilities and no fruit shops; recommend staying in downtown Jingxi
Day 5: Jingxi → Bama → Leye
Breakfast: Zhushan Street time-honored rice rolls
¥2/piece, ¥4 to get full, authentic local taste
✅ Bainiao Rock: River water turns yellow on rainy days, viewing experience is reduced
Can skip if you've seen many karst caves, average value
✅ Bama Longevity Village
Focuses on cultural atmosphere, scenery is ordinary
Food: Zhuangjia Local Restaurant | ¥138 roasted suckling pig (a bit greasy), longevity hemp soup is delicious
Passed by Haokun Lake, the water is emerald green and beautiful
⚠️ Watch out for falling rocks and landslides on rainy days, drive safely
Stay: Leye Guanlan International Resort Hotel
Facilities, service, and location are all good, affordable price
⚠️ Newly opened, strong carpet smell in the room
Day 6: Leye → Nandan
Breakfast: Yaoji Beef Rice Noodles (Highly recommended)
¥6 a bowl! Generous portion of beef and offal
Worth coming back to Leye just for this bowl of noodles
Bought super cheap grapes and mangoes at the morning market
❌ Dashiwei Sinkhole (Major pitfall)
Must, must check the weather before going
No view at all on foggy days! Do not recommend buying the joint ticket
Stumbled upon the niche Meijia Sinkhole, better for photos than the scenic spot
Passed by the Tian'e Longtan Grand Bridge (world's longest span), super spectacular
Stay: Nandan Yaowangfu Hotel (inside the White-trouser Yao Scenic Area)
Family room is amazing, perfectly heals the mood from the daytime pitfalls
Free Yao ethnic song and dance + bonfire party at night, great atmosphere
Day 7: Nandan → Jinchengjiang → Liuzhou
Stroll around the White-trouser Yao Village and Dongtian Shengjing
Waterfalls, Yao villages, wild mushrooms, a slow, comfortable walk
Lunch in Jinchengjiang: Nongli Town
✅ Recommended: Meat-stuffed betel leaves, stir-fried banana flowers, five-colored rice
❌ Hemp oil tea is a bit bitter, only suitable for trying once
Stay: Liuzhou Golden Crown Boman Hotel (Pedestrian Street Branch)
Great service, right next to the Five-Star Pedestrian Street
Food: Jinyu Lane upstairs sweet soup, Jintuanzi pastries (kids love them)
Night tour of Wuhou Temple Park and Fengqing Port, the river view is healing
Day 8: In-depth food tour in Liuzhou
✅ Must-visit: Qingyun Minsheng Morning Market
Bean powder buns, jasmine soy milk, cassava soup, crystal shrimp dumplings, none of them disappoint
Visit Liuzhou Museum, the Paleontology Fossil Hall is amazing!
Depart for Nanning in the afternoon
Stay: Yishang Hotel (Wanda Plaza)
❌ Not recommended! Noisy street side, parking fee required
Night tour of Pingxi Night Market, full of local vibes
Highly recommend: Stir-fried blood sausage, sticky rice sausage
Day 9: Wrapping up in Nanning and returning
✅ Dancun Farmers Market
The ultimate spot for local fruits! Qinmi No. 9 passion fruit can be eaten raw, durian is super cheap
Visit Qingxiu Mountain + Ethnic Museum
Lots of tropical plants, ethnic cultural and creative products are great for souvenirs
Lunch at Langxi Night Market, achieved rice noodle freedom the whole time
Cheap and authentic, never get tired of eating it every day
Finally, return the car at Nanning Airport and fly back to Shanghai